A disturbing incident in Manchester’s Northern Quarter has raised alarms over the misuse of smart glasses technology to violate women’s privacy. 22-year-old Isabel Thomason was approached by a stranger on the street who confessed to filming her using Meta’s smart glasses, which have the capability to record video covertly.
Thomason was left feeling “violated” and “scared” by the encounter, as the man claimed he regularly posts such footage online to “boost men’s confidence.” Unlike other women who have reported similar incidents, Thomason was not asked for permission to have her video shared.
Experts warn that these types of covert filming incidents are on the rise, with women facing a range of harms including the risk of deepfakes and having their privacy invaded in public spaces. Dr Olga Jurasz, director of the Centre for Protecting Women Online, stated that the “discreet” nature of the smart glasses makes them particularly “worrying.”
Meta, the parent company of the smart glasses, acknowledged that a “small number of users” have chosen to misuse their products despite measures in place to prevent covert recording. They maintained that their terms of service prohibit harmful activities like harassment and privacy infringement.
However, calls are growing for stronger regulations and laws to address this issue. Safeguarding minister Jess Phillips described the covert filming as “vile” and pledged that the government will introduce new legislation to make it a criminal offence to capture intimate images without consent.
Thomason suggested that smart glasses should have a more distinctive appearance to make it clear when someone is being recorded, stating, “It doesn’t make sense. It feels dark.”
The incident highlights the need for technology companies, policymakers, and law enforcement to work together to protect women’s safety and privacy in the digital age.
